PROTECTION OF FORESTS FROM FIRE 271 



designed for saddle and pack-horse travel. (Fig. 59.) 

 While their first purpose is to facilitate patrol and access 

 to a fire, they may be used as starting-points for back- 

 firing, and will often check or actually stop a small 

 surface fire. 



Special Fire-Lines. When there are no roads or 

 trails which will answer the purpose, it may be advisa- 

 ble to construct special fire-lines. Special fire-lines are 

 necessarily expensive, and are used where the property 

 to be protected is very valuable. They are most used 

 in woodlands in the better settled portions of the country, 

 where land values are relatively high. In many cases it 

 is advisable in a valuable woodlot to construct here and 

 there a special fire-line at points where it is not worth 

 while or practicable to build a road or trail. Thus, 

 special lines are frequently run along the boundaries or at 

 strategic points connecting roads. It is a sound princi- 

 ple, however, that special fire-lines should never be built 

 where a road or trail can be used for the same purpose. 



In the less intensive forest conditions, such as occur 

 in the lumber woods, special fire-lines have so far been 

 constructed only under exceptional conditions. In a 

 large forest, the first work is to open up the area for com- 

 munication by the construction of trails, and, where 

 possible, of roads. Like all other work in forestry in- 

 volving an investment, the use of fire-lines must be based 

 on sound business principles. They should be used 

 only where necessary, and where their expense is justified 

 by the returns. 



